Depilation by means of laser energy



smu vow Patent {72] inventor RobertQMeyer Aurora, Indiana [21] App]. Nov629,322 [22 Filed Apr-ll 7, 1967 [45] Patented Nov.10,l970 {73] AssigneeGregory System Incorporated Houston,Texns a corporation of Colorado [54]DEPILATION BY MEANS OF LASER ENERGY 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs. 1

52 use: 128/398, sax/94.5 51 111:. CL A6ln 50] Field ofSenreh 128/23,303.1,3o3.1s,303.19,395-39s;331/94.5

156i ReferencesClted UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,035,580 5/1962 Guiorguievl28/303.l8

OTHER REFERENCES 1 Malt, The Technology Review" Apr. 1964, pp. 25 and 2633l/94.5 Vol. 66, No. 6 r

Primary Examiner-William E. Karnm Attorney-Laurence R. Brown ABSTRACT:This application discloses a method of depilation wherein the lowerportion of a hair is destroyed by metered amount of laser energy sent tothe end of a fiber o tics W g-into the follicle. The robe is ex: e fiberoptic rod of 92JHSi l W9T EE- a mmwmmaun in a t area inatania'mbe of yo: ms in JEEEFJ'THEEM1bfi515fifiser enei gy siSIiFE fSPrFEEiving aspecified metered amount of energy such as the order of 40 joules persquare centimeter to destroy the lower portion of a hair over a periodof the order of one to two milliseconds such as obtainable from a pulsedlaser SOUICC.

Patented Nov. 10, 1970 3,538,919

DEPILATION BY MEANS OF LASER ENERGY This invention relates to methodsand apparatus for laser treatment which would be used for the surgicaldestruction of a portion of the follicle-in a depilation.

An indication of the state of the art of laser treatment is contained inan article entitled The Lasers Bright Magic" published in pages 858--83lof National Geographic, Vol. 130, No. 6 for December 1966. However, theprior art of laser treatment has not afforded methods of depilation.

The object of this invention is to provide a laser depilatory.

Thus, in accordance with this invention, the laser energy isconcentrated at a specified region of a laser transmission rodterminating in a probe which penetrates the skin to reach the hairfollicle. The specific means and method for carrying out this inventionare described with particularity in the following specification togetherwith further objects, features, and advantages, while making referenceto theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FlG. 1 is a fragmental view, partly in section, of a laser probe usedfor depilation;

F IG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a laser system constructed inaccordance with this invention to surgically treat internal tissue;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of means of coupling laser energy to asurgical probe provided in accordance with the teachings of thisinvention;

PK}. 4 is an elevation view of a probe constructed in accordance withthis invention; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged segmental elevation view in section of the probestructure.

As may be seen from FIG. 1, a laser instrument is shown with a probe 6,which penetrates the skin 7 to reach inside the follicle 9 fordestruction of a portion of the follicle. As shown schematically, theprobe 6 may be inserted alongside the hair 10 inside the follicle. Inthis illustration depilation is accom' plished by inserting the probe 6into the follicle 9 of hair 10 to terminate at the papilla, andtransmitting a metered amount of laser energy through the laser beamtransmitting rod 11 to destroy the tissue immediately surrounding theterminal end 12 of the laser probe 6.

The laser system itself is somewhat conventional as shown in FIG. 2utilizing a laser source which can be a ruby, argon, or neodymium laserof the type commercially available from American Optical and othersources. As noted, the source is preferably a pulsed laser whichprovides a laser flash of known duration to thereby establish a knowntime period of energy duration upon closure ofa switch such aspush'button 21. The duration for purposes of destroying a follicle maybe in the order of l to 2 milliseconds. For purposes of laser depilationas afforded by this invention, the laser energy is madg o f opticalfibers about .002 inches in'diameter with peak transrnissibnat'thelas'f'wavel' tli?Ar't'6j5iii:"al System22 maybemdttifo'cfs'thTasf'beanfinto a flat receptive end of the rod 11. Thedesign is such that total internal reflections (TIR) are supportedwithin the entire length of the laser transmission fiber optics rod. Thefibg optics rod is figidblgggditt: protection is covered with acatheteriacket 23 intermediate the coupling member 24 andthe probepencil member 25 at the terminal end. A coiled. springZS restrigs f lsing at the joint between probe pencil 25 and the 1252?: 23.

Alternatively, the laser energy ihay ba c'aaplttiiwimout an opticalsystem from a laser rod 30 into the end of the transmission rod 11 asshown by FIG. 3. If the laser rod 30 provides an energy of 10 joules andis 6 millimeters in diameter, the coupled energy density to the .002inch diameter transmission rod 11 is in the order of 30 to 40 joules persquare centimeter, which is in the order of energy density desired todestroy a portion of the follicle in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1.Thus, it has been found that successful depilation occurs when a lasertransmitting probe of the order of .002 inches in diameter is insertedthrough the skin to terminate at a follicle when a density of laserenergy in the order of 40 joules per square centimeter is transmitted tothe terminal end of the probe for a time period in the order of l to 2milliseconds.

The structure of probe pencil 25 is shown in F165. 4 and 5, where FIG. 5is an enlarged view taken about the joint 31. Thus, the .002 inchdiameter glass transmission rod 11 is jacketed within a metallic tubing32 of stainless steel for exarnple, having an outer diameter of about.005 inch. This serves as an injection needle section 34 and funhermoreshields the laser transmission rod 11 to prevent any damage to tissue inthe event defects in the rod permit escape of laser energy at anyposition other than the terminal end. A tapered coupling section 33couples the needle section 34 to the pencil grip head 35 into which thecatheter jacket 23 is inserted and sealed and from which extends theprotective coil spring 28.

. It is noted that because of the intense nature of the laser beam whichis transmitted through the fiber optic rod 11, it is possible to deliversufficient energy at the end of the needle probe 34 for destruction of aportion of the follicle only in the immediate vicinity of the end of theprobe. The concept allows that the laser dose required for treatment maybe metered in such a way as to be established at the laser source.Although therapeutic probes for transmission of radiant energy from asource to the skin or at a position accessible through a body cavityhave been known before as evidenced from the teaching of treating skinsurface blemishes on page 873 of the above referenced article, and inU.S. Pat. Nos. 1,550,197 and 1,542,183, disclosing therapeutic energytransmission rods, there has heretofore been no known method orapparatus for inserting radiant energy by means of a probe to theposition of the follicle for the purposes of depilation.

Accordingly, this invention provides a novel depilatory.

' the appended claims.

lclaim: l. The method of depilation comprising in combination the stepof:

inserting a laser transmitting probe in the order of .002 inches indiameter through the skin to terminate with an energy releasing end faceof the probe located at the end of a follicle; confining the internallaser energy within the entire length of the probe;

transmitting a density of laser energy into said probe in the order of40 joules per square centimeter;

pulsing the laser energy for a time period in the order of l or 2milliseconds; and

confining the release of said energy to said end face of the probethereby destroying tissue only in the immediate vicinity of the folliclewithout providing for any return energy path through tissue.

2. The improved method of depilation comprising the steps positioning alaser energy path to transmit radiant laser energy beneath the skin intoa terminal region in the vicinity of a follicle; I

transmitting a measured pulse of laser energy through said path toterminate in the immediate vicinity of the follicle of hair having avalue in the order of 40 joules per square centimeter for a timeduration in the order of a few milliseconds for depilating the hair withdamage only to that tissue in the immediate vicinity of said terminalregion; and

confining said energy within said path for release of radiant energyinto the tissue only at said terminal end.

3. The method defined in claim 2 including the steps of transmitting thelaser energy into the vicinity of the follicle by means of a singleoptical fiber laser transmitting probe having a diameter of the order of.002 inches and providing total internal reflections to emit the entire.laser energy beam at the end surface of the fiber and extending saidfiber beneath the skin into a position near the papilla.

3 ,5 3 8 ,9 19 3 4 4. The improved method of depilation comprising thestep tion including the step of metering said laser energy by oftransmitting a measured quantity of laser energy into the abutting aprobe of limited diameter to alaser energy conductimmediate vicinity ofthe follicle of a sufficient for depilaing source of larger diameter.

